Last Updated 20th Feb 2022
When the clocks go back from the end of October until the end of March, we often feel bereft of sunlight and warmth. It’s then that holidays somewhere hot and sunny are so appreciated and eagerly anticipated.
Get away from the cold UK weather and the long dark evenings and escape to a beautiful beach. So, where’s the best place to head for the sun? Where’s hot but also dry in February through to April, when we are so desperate for some sun, after not having any for months?
If it’s all about the beach and you want it tropical…
Mauritius is a 12-hour flight from London and is great all year round, but our winter months are some of the best. Lovely temperatures averaging around 25- 28C and they are also some of the driest months. With some of the finest beach hotels in the world, this is an incredibly idyllic Indian Ocean dream and there will be a hotel catering for whatever it is you’re looking for.

The Maldives is about a 10-hour flight away and there’s not a bad time to go to these idyllic little islands – although with their paradise vibe they are the perfect antidote to a dark British winter! More suitable for a peaceful and relaxing escape, this is ideal if you just want a relaxing break.
The Caribbean is out of its hurricane season by December and until April it is the driest and least humid, so winter here is a dream. There are so many islands to choose from depending on what kind of experience you are looking for. Barbados and Antigua are the two most popular choices, with great restaurants and plenty to keep you entertained, for breath-taking rain-forest landscapes there’s St Lucia, whilst Grenada offers an authentic Caribbean experience – the list goes on! We’re also specialists in creating amazing Caribbean Island Hopping itineraries, if you fancy visiting more than one island.

If you love the beach but also want things to explore…
Mexico is about 10 hours from the UK and the best time to go, whether that’s to the Yucatan Peninsula or Pacific Coast is between November and April. From the ancient Mayan culture in the Yucatan to the authentic Mexican flavours of the Pacific Coast, there’s so much to see and do. Along with heavenly beaches, relaxed vibes and great weather.
Thailand is a 13-hour flight from the UK and the islands are ideal between November to April. There are dozens of islands to choose from that are the stuff of fantasies and you can also combine it with a trip further North to explore more the of the country, be it ancient culture, elephant trekking or the bright lights of Bangkok.

Sri Lanka is also ideal during our winter months. If you are looking for an adventure combined with a stunning beach, then look no further. Visit the colourful temples, spot rare wildlife and take tea at a hillside plantation – Sri Lanka is beautiful, unique and filled with fascinating culture and history.
Cost Rica is an ecotourism heaven, packed with natural beauty, with lush grasslands, tropical rainforests and vast mountains ranges, with everything from white rivers to simmering volcanoes and is teeming with wildlife. It has stunning beaches galore with great surfing conditions and a perfect climate to enjoy it all in.
Bali is perfect for a beach holiday and our winter is the best time to visit, with idyllic weather from Oct through to May. From this list it is the only destination still requiring a short quarantine on arrival, however you can still use all your hotel’s facilities, so a few days relaxing around the pool on arrival before you explore this beautiful island isn’t that bad a way to start your holiday. They also have beach resorts catering for every type of holiday, from quiet idyllic resorts, through to wild party resorts. Yes, you can spend your time relaxing on its stunning beaches, but there’s also plenty to do. Take a boat trip to the more remote Gili Islands or explore its waterfalls, temples, wildlife and culture.

Florida in the winter is mainly milder but still very pleasant and it is a great time to visit the theme parks of Orlando as the humidity in the summer is exhausting. In February half term it’s usually warm in the daytime with very little chance of rain. You can combine Orlando with the Florida Keys or somewhere along the Gulf coast where Clearwater, St Petersburg Beach and Sarasota offer miles of pure white sand and a relaxed seaside vibe. You can even combine Florida with some great US cities and national parks, mixing all the bits you want to see in to one US Multi Centre holiday.
Want the sun but not too bothered about a beach…
Australia has opposite seasons to us, so winter is the best time to visit and it’s just reopened so is a great time to visit. Although it does have stunning beaches, a visit to Australia is more about exploring its vibrant cities, stunning landscapes and extraordinary sights.
South Africa also has stunning beaches, but you’d be missing out if you spent too much time on them. From the lively Cape Town and its iconic Table Mountain to the exquisite scenery of the Garden Route and Winelands and not forgetting the magnificent Game Reserves of Kruger and the Eastern Cape, there is simply so much to see and do.

If you don’t want to travel as far…
Cyprus is the closest option for winter sun and a good European option, with temperatures remaining in the low to mid-20s throughout November. By December, these will drop to the high teens, which still represents a good option for a little warmth without travelling too far. For many people, this time of year is much more pleasant for visiting Cyprus, as the summer months can be unbearably hot and dry. Planning a trip for the winter means being able to explore more in relative comfort.
UAE is never cold and is just under 7 hours away. In fact, when the temperature drops, it feels like a relief. This makes it a great place to escape for some winter sun and to cheer yourself up with a few of the finer things in life – we’re talking shopping, beaches and delicious meals in world-class restaurants. If these things don’t chase away the winter blues nothing will! Expect temperatures in the late 20s degrees C to mid-30s, allowing a dip in the sea to cool off on a regular basis.

The Canaries is only a short 4½ hours away, and being only 100km from the African coast, it’s warm pretty much all the time. In the winter months, from December to March, it’s still an average of 18 degrees which is great t-shirt temperature. Each island has its own mix of gorgeous beaches, entertainment and dramatic scenery. As well as the well-known destinations of Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, there’s also the sleepy islands of La Gomera and La Palma characterised by untouched beaches, pine forests, and fishing villages.
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Parryfamily
Another fantastic trip organised by Andy - we had a wonderful two centre, two week break to Cuba - hotels were perfect, transfers seamless and many amazing memories made.Now to arrange our 2023 trip!
Posted 7 hours agoRachel
Always so fantastic with designing our holidays! Very cost effective also and choices always given on flights and hotels! Absolutely nothing is too much trouble whatsoever and they never tire of my questions and odd panic moments. You will never be disappointed with eshores ever - all our trips have been smooth with transfers etc and always great value. I wont use any other agent now, forget the high street just call eshores - I have recommended them to my family and friends over the years and they have been satisfied and delighted with the service also - every agent is great - I mostly use Hannah and Andy . So 100% Satisfied!!
Posted 1 day agoPeteH
We used eShores for the first time, for a special family trip to SE Asia. Right from the start, the service, help, advice and price we got (from Dave) was fantastic. The holiday itself was amazing, thank you eshores and Dave!
Posted 2 days agoKay
I have used e shores pre-covid and they were and still maintain a high standard of professionalism. Very patient and I would not hesitate to use again. Thank you Chris
Posted 4 days agoDenise
What can I say. We have used Eshores for many years. Right back to when they first started in a spare room. The teams has grown since then. We have always had top class service. Before e-tickets when you had real tickets in a presentation wallet. We had a postal strike in leeds and the tickets were delivered in person, there’s no beating that. We would never trust anyone else with our holiday bookings. I would give ten stars if that was possible.
Posted 5 days agoGulab
Chris arranged our travel to meet our requirements fully. Chris was engaging and prompt in responding to changes etc. Even logged in on his day off to save the booking.
Posted 5 days agoElizabeth
Great response, great service! Matt couldn't have been more helpful when we had to change times and dates. Very Happy!
Posted 6 days agoTim
Dave was efficient and responded easily to all requests, Very easy company to deal with. The proof will be whether goes smoothly without hiccups So far i am pleased with E Shore.
Posted 1 week agoUpasna
I got in touch with eShores to book a holiday to Mauritius for my husband's 50th birthday. I worked with Michelle who was absolutely brilliant and extremely responsive with her interactions. She helped us with booking Zilwa Attitude on an all-inclusive 7-night break, which was brilliant. The entire booking process was seamless with suggestions given by Michelle at every point. I was quite nervous as we hadn't travelled for a while due to the pandemic and also this was a surprise for my husband, so he wasn't involved at all. I was very nervous about not just making it the best travel experience for all of us but also worried about travelling as a whole post pandemic. I was very apprehensive about choosing the right travel agency. Michelle was extremely reassuring and gave me a lot of confidence in the whole process and e shores were absolutely fantastic the whole process. Michelle from eShores will be our regular travel agent going forward for any holidays.. I highly recommend eShores to anyone..!!
Posted 1 week agoLisaUsher
EShores have provided a fantastic service from initially discussing our plans, looking at hotel options and booking everything. The customer service provided by Andy was great and I would definitely book again with them. If you want quality service I would recommend eshores.
Posted 1 week ago